The document discusses various types of hydraulic actuators used to convert fluid pressure into mechanical motion or force. It describes linear actuators like cylinders, which can be single-acting, double-acting, telescopic, or tandem cylinder designs. Rotary actuators and semi-rotary actuators are also discussed briefly. The main focus is on hydraulic cylinders, their components, operating principles, forces involved, and examples of force and power calculations.

1. Hydraulic Component:
Actuator
Prepared by
Mohd Shahril Shariff

2. Introduction
Hydraulic systems are used to control and transmit power. A
pump driven by a prime mover such as an electric motor creates a
flow of fluid, in which the pressure, direction and rate of flow are
controlled by valves. An actuator is used to convert the energy of
fluid back into the mechanical power. The amount of output
power developed depends upon the flow rate, the pressure drop
across the actuator and its overall efficiency. Thus, hydraulic
actuators are devices used to convert pressure energy of the fluid
into mechanical energy.
Depending on the type of actuation, hydraulic actuators are
classified as follows:
1. Linear actuator: For linear actuation (hydraulic cylinders).
2. Rotary actuator: For rotary actuation (hydraulic motor).
3. Semi-rotary actuator: For limited angle of actuation (semi-
rotary actuator).

3. Type Cylinder
Types of Hydraulic Cylinders
Hydraulic cylinders are of the following types:
Single-acting cylinders.
Double-acting cylinders.
Telescopic cylinders.
Tandem cylinders.

4. Single Acting Cylinder
A single-acting cylinder is simplest in design and is shown
schematically in Fig. It consists of a piston inside a cylindrical
housing called barrel. On one end of the piston there is a rod,
which can reciprocate. At the opposite end, there is a port for the
entrance and exit of oil. Single-acting cylinders produce force in
one direction by hydraulic pressure acting on the piston. (Single-
acting cylinders can exert a force in the extending direction only.)
The return of the piston is not done hydraulically. In single-acting
cylinders, retraction is done either by gravity or by a spring.
According to the type of return, single-acting cylinders are
classified as follows:
Gravity-return single-acting cylinder.
Spring-return single-acting cylinder.

5. Gravity Return
Figure shows gravity-return-type single-acting cylinders. In the push type, the cylinder
extends to lift a weight against the force of gravity by applying oil pressure at the blank
end. The oil is passed through the blank-end port or pressure port. The rod-end port or
vent port is open to atmosphere so that air can flow freely in and out of the rod end of
the cylinder. To retract the cylinder, the pressure is simply removed from the piston by
connecting the pressure port to the tank. This allows the weight of the load to push the
fluid out of the cylinder back to the tank. In pull-type gravity-return-type single-acting
cylinder, the cylinder lifts the weight by retracting. The blank-end port is the pressure port
and blind-end port is now the vent port. This cylinder automatically extends whenever the
pressure port is connected to the tank.

6. Spring Return
A spring-return single-acting cylinder is shown in Fig. In push type, the pressure is sent
through the pressure port situated at the blank end of the cylinder. When the pressure is
released, the spring automatically returns the cylinder to the fully retracted position. The
vent port is open to atmosphere so that air can flow freely in and out of the rod end of
the cylinder.
Figure shows a spring-return single-acting cylinder. In this design, the cylinder retracts
when the pressure port is connected to the pump flow and extends whenever the
pressure port is connected to the tank. Here the pressure port is situated at the rod end
of the cylinder.

7. Double Acting Cylinder
• There are two types of double-acting
cylinders:
Double-acting cylinder with a piston rod on
one side.
Double-acting cylinder with a piston rod on
both sides.

8. Double-Acting Cylinder with a Piston
Rod on One Side
Figure shows the
operation of a double-
acting cylinder with a
piston rod on one side. To
extend the cylinder, the
pump flow is sent to the
blank-end port as in Fig.
The fluid from the rod-end
port returns to the
reservoir. To retract the
cylinder, the pump flow is
sent to the rod-end port
and the fluid from the
blank-end port returns to
the tank as in Fig.

9. Double-Acting Cylinder with a Piston
Rod on Both Sides
A double-acting cylinder with a piston rod on both sides (Fig.)is a cylinder with a
rod extending from both ends. This cylinder can be used in an application where
work can be done by both ends of the cylinder, thereby making the cylinder more
productive. Double-rod cylinders can withstand higher side loads because they
have an extra bearing, one on each rod, to withstand the loading.

10. Telescopic Cylinder
A telescopic cylinder is used when a long
stroke length and a short retracted length
are required. The telescopic cylinder
extends in stages, each stage consisting of
a sleeve that fits inside the previous stage.
One application for this type of cylinder is
raising a dump truck bed. Telescopic
cylinders are available in both single-
acting and double-acting models. They are
more expensive than standard cylinders
due to their more complex construction.
When the cylinder extends, all the
sections move together until the outer
section is prevented from further
extension by its stop ring. The remaining
sections continue out-stroking until the
second outermost section reaches the
limit of its stroke;this process continues
until all sections are extended, the
innermost one being the last of all.

11. Tandem Cylinder
A tandem cylinder, shown in Fig, is used in applications where
a large amount of force is required from a small-diameter
cylinder. Pressure is applied to both pistons, resulting in
increased force because of the larger area. The drawback is
that these cylinders must be longer than a standard cylinder
to achieve an equal speed because flow must go to both
pistons.

12. Graphical Symbol

14. Cylinder Force, Velocity and Power

15. Cylinder Force, Velocity and Power
Extension stroke : the fluid pressure acts on the entire
circular piston area Ap.
Retraction stroke : the fluid enters the rod-end side and
the fluid pressure acts on the smaller annular area
between the rod and cylinder bore (Ap−Ar).
(Ar is the area of the piston rod).
Ap is greater than (Ap−Ar) : the retraction velocity (vret)
is greater than the extension velocity (vext) for the same
flow rate. Extension force is greater than the retraction
force for the same operating pressure.

16. Velocity & Force

17. Power

18. Example 1

19. Example 2

20. Example 3

21. Example 4

23. Example 5